ABSTRACT
Objective: To investigate whether the preoperative controlling nutritional status (COUNT) score is a prognostic factor of patients with high-risk factors for early-stage cervical cancer after surgery and concurrent chemoradiotherapy (CCRT). Methods: This was a retrospective study. From July 2017 to March 2021, a total of 354 patients with histologically confirmed FIGO stage IB-IIA cervical cancer undergoing surgery and postoperative CCRT were included at Hunan University of Medicine General Hospital, China. According to receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis, the patients were divided into a low CONUT score (< 3) group and a high CONUT score (≥ 3) group. Overall survival (OS) was used as the primary outcome measure and disease-free survival (DFS) as the secondary outcome measure. Results: Among the 354 patients, 239(67.5%) were included in the low CONUT score group and 115 (32.5%) in the high CONUT score group. The 3, 5 and 10-year OS rates in the low CONUT score group and high CONUT score group were respectively presenting statistically significant differences (p<0.001). The 3, 5 and 10-year DFS rates in the low CONUT score group and in the high CONUT score group were respectively with statistically significant differences (p<0.001). Multivariate Cox regression analysis showed that CONUT score, histological type, PNI and lymph node metastasis were all independent predictors for OS and DFS (all p<0.05). Conclusion: High preoperative CONUT score indicates poor prognosis of patients with high-risk factors for early-stage cervical cancer after surgery and postoperative CCRT. In clinical practice, consolidation chemotherapy is recommended for patients with high CONUT scores.
ABSTRACT
This paper is to investigate the apoptosis effect of ovarian cancer SKOV3 cells induced by nanosecond plused electric fileds (nsPEFs) and to study its influence on Fas-mediated apoptosis. SKOV3 cell were exposed to the 45kV/cm of field intensity, 30 pulses, and 50ns, 100ns, and 200ns of pulse width, respectively. Flow cytometry were used to assay apoptosis. Agarose gel electrophoresis was used to detect DNA ladder. Real time PCR (RT-PCR) and Western blot analysis were used to measure the expression level of Fas, FasL, caspase-8 and Bid. Flow cytometry results revealed that the late apoptosis rates and (or) necrosis were significantly higher than those in control group (3.03% +/- 0.57%) (P < 0.05), with apoptosis rates and (or) necrosis being (18.31 +/- 0.65%), (45.55% +/- 3.71%), (47.47% +/- 7.01%) in the groups of 50ns, 100ns, 200ns, respectively. A typical DNA ladder pattern of internucleosomal fragmentation was observed in the groups of 50ns and 100ns, but not clear in the 200ns group. RT-PCR results revealed that the mRNA expression of Fas, FasL, caspase8 and Bid were significantly increased in groups of 50ns, 100ns, but significantly decreased in group of 200ns (P < 0.05). Meanwhile, Western blot analysis demonstrated that the Fas, FasL, Caspase-8 and Bid expression were significantly higher in groups of 50ns, 100ns, but significantly lower in group of 200ns (P < 0.05). It indicated that 45kV/cm, 50ns, 100ns nsPEFs could induce apoptosis in ovarian cancer SKOV3 cells and activate Fas-mediated apoptosis pathway.
